Page 35 of Dirty Secret

She raced but not before I yelled at her, "But it's Saturday."

"I take it Kat doesn't like raisins. Good to know."

I nodded and put the dried fruit back to continue to gather dust.

"She hates them so much that she can't even be in the same room with someone who eats them. I thought she might be allergic, but the doctor told us she has no allergies. I keep them in the house as a threat."

Heidi's beautiful hazel eyes grew wide. "You make her eat them?"

"No, no, that's terrible." I chuckled. "I begin to eat them in front of her. Tell her I'm craving raisins. You'd be surprised how fast she cleans up her room or," I waved toward the stairs, "does her homework when she knows raisins will make an appearance."

I've noticed that my heart fluttered like it had wings whenever Heidi laughed over these past few weeks. Whenever her eyes wrinkle in amusement, it's like a swarm of butterflies take over the inside of my chest.

"You are terrible. I should call child protective services on you." She tried to keep a straight face, but her words deepened until they descended into laughter. "Now there's an idea."

What? Does she really want to take my daughter away because I eat raisins in front of Kat? I admit it's not the best parenting tactic, but I work with what I got.

"You know it's not easy being a single parent, Heidi. Just because—"

"No," she placed her warm hands on my chest, "I mean I could be the police officer and you could be the criminal and . . ." she trailed off with a bite of her lip.

Without a second thought, I pulled her into an embrace. I couldn't believe that a month ago I was watching her from afar, believing she would never consider someone like me—a man with calloused hands and an old, beat up truck.

Now all she wanted was my rough fingers on her creamy skin until she was wet and wild and screaming my name. I didn't think I could be any happier.

"I swear, officer, I never meant to steal the pie. It looked so juicy," I dipped my head to her neck for a quick lick, "and tasted so sweet. I couldn't help myself."

Heidi moaned, causing her body to vibrate to the point where the counter rumbled. That was an intense growl, even for Heidi. I never knew she enjoyed neck licking so much. I'd keep it in mind for next time.

She pushed me back, and I expected to find eyes darkening, full of need, but instead discovered a face full of frustration. Heidi reached over and picked something up.

"My phone. Sorry. Felipe is supposed to call me about the gala."

Heidi swiped at her phone screen, groaning as she read the screen. She brought it up to her ear. "Hi, Dad."

My neck ached. I rubbed at the pain and hoped the call would be quick. Conversations with her father never ended well. Ever since Heidi told me and my father about how her father treated her, I had the deep desire to punch Mr. White. My dad had made nasty comments about Senator John White for years, which I shrugged off as just another greedy politician doing the same greedy things.

But now that I knew the senator had no problem using his own flesh and blood, it sickened me that Heidi had him in her life.

"What?" Heidi's eyes widened as she stared at me.

"But how did you find . . .? You know what? Never mind. I don't want to hear how you bullied someone into telling you anything about my life. If something happens to them, I will go to the papers, Dad. And you know exactly what I'll say. At this point, I don't care what happens to me. But nothing will happen to them."

Her jaw stiffened, and I had a horrible feeling I was going to have the urge to hit a senator again once she was off the phone.

"Fine. We will be there. Tomorrow night." Heidi pulled the phone from her ear and tapped it once before placing it back on the counter.

I needed to touch her, as if it had been years instead of minutes since I last felt her skin. With gentle fingers, I stroked her stiff muscles until the tension began to ease.

"What's going on? What did he say?"

I was worried. She refused to take her eyes off her phone.

After a few moments, she took a deep breath. I dropped my hands as she turned to face me.

"It seems my father wishes to meet you. We will be having dinner with my parents tomorrow night at their home in Georgetown."

Now my jaw tensed. "Is that what you want?"

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